I would argue that if you have never earned paragraph 5 salary, you were not an NFL player. You were interviewing. I would also argue that continuing to use the term “pro” in the latest litigious college football battle is disingenuous and purposefully narrative shaping. The 2022 class is a special case. They were caught in between two policies. The courts, NCAA and SEC have an opportunity to address their unique situation. Don’t condemn the athletes for exercising their rights through the proper channels to continue their careers. This doesn’t absolve a member institution from attempting to circumvent conference rules. But it does underscore the importance of player agency and recourse to protect themselves from harm.